Tottenham Welcome New Star As De Zerbi’s Squad Gets Major Lift
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered the race to sign Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, with the north London club making direct contact with the Blues as they look to strengthen their attack before the transfer window closes on September 1.
According to reports, Tottenham are exploring the possibility of hijacking Aston Villa’s proposed move for the Senegal international. Spurs are said to be trying to understand the financial and contractual conditions of a potential deal before deciding whether to make a formal move for the striker.
The interest comes at a crucial moment for Tottenham, who endured a nightmare start to the new Premier League campaign. Roberto De Zerbi’s side suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat away to Brentford on Saturday, highlighting some of the attacking problems that affected the team last season.
Tottenham have already been working aggressively to improve their forward options. The club are reportedly close to completing deals for Manchester City attacking duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush, with the combined cost expected to reach around £140 million.
Savinho is expected to give De Zerbi another dangerous option on either wing, while Marmoush is being brought in to provide greater goal threat through the middle. The Egyptian forward could become Tottenham’s main No.9, particularly if Richarlison leaves the club before the transfer deadline.
However, Spurs may still believe they need another striker, especially given Dominic Solanke’s fitness problems. De Zerbi is reportedly keen on Solanke when the England international is fully fit, but his repeated spells on the treatment table have raised concerns about whether he can consistently lead the attack throughout an entire season.
That situation appears to have encouraged Tottenham to consider Jackson.
Spurs make contact over Jackson
A report from Football FanCast claims that Tottenham have made direct contact with Chelsea regarding a possible transfer for the 23-year-old striker.
The report suggests Spurs are attempting to understand exactly what would be required to complete the deal before making another major financial commitment. Chelsea are reportedly looking to recover around £65 million for Jackson, a figure that could push Tottenham’s total spending during the summer transfer window beyond the £400 million mark.
Such a move would underline just how determined the club are to rebuild De Zerbi’s attacking options after their difficult opening performance.
Despite Tottenham’s interest, however, Aston Villa are reportedly still in pole position for Jackson.
Villa are believed to have identified the Chelsea forward as a potential replacement for Ollie Watkins. The England striker has reportedly informed Villa chiefs that he wants to leave the club for the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal said to have made a significant move to secure his services.
If Watkins eventually departs Villa Park, the club would suddenly have a major gap to fill in attack. Jackson is reportedly ready to take on that responsibility, making Villa a serious contender for his signature.
The proposed transfer between Villa and Chelsea is reportedly not as advanced as some reports have suggested, meaning Tottenham could still have an opportunity to intervene. However, Spurs may need to act quickly if they genuinely want to prevent Jackson from heading to Villa.
Jackson’s Chelsea future remains uncertain
Jackson’s future at Stamford Bridge has become increasingly uncertain after he spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich.
The striker had fallen out of favour under former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, but he still managed to score 11 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions during his loan spell.
Chelsea’s attacking options have also changed significantly. The club brought in Danny Welbeck during the summer and already have players such as Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Emegha competing for attacking positions. Liam Delap is also expected to move on, but Jackson’s long-term position in the squad remains unclear.
For Tottenham, signing Jackson would represent another major investment in an attack that is undergoing a significant transformation.
Spurs are already expected to spend heavily on Savinho and Marmoush, and adding Jackson could take their total summer expenditure to an extraordinary level. The club would therefore need to decide whether the Senegal international offers enough additional quality to justify another expensive deal.
At present, Tottenham appear to have only a slim chance of beating Aston Villa to Jackson. Villa have already identified the forward as a potential solution to their Watkins problem, while Jackson is reportedly open to the move.
Nevertheless, Tottenham’s direct contact with Chelsea means the race may not be completely over.
With the September 1 deadline rapidly approaching, the situation could develop quickly. Spurs must now decide whether to make a serious attempt to hijack Villa’s deal or continue with Marmoush and Solanke as their primary striker options for the opening part of the campaign.
The latest Jackson development is another indication that De Zerbi wants Tottenham to have a much more dangerous attack this season, but whether Spurs can actually pull off the surprise transfer remains to be seen.
Elsewhere, Tottenham are also reportedly preparing for another major squad change, with one player allegedly informed that he has been placed on the transfer list. The unhappy star is now reportedly attracting interest from Galatasaray, adding another layer of drama to what has already been an extremely busy summer at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
